You discover a species of snail on a remote archipealago in the pacific ocean. S

Question

You discover a species of snail on a remote archipealago in the pacific ocean. Surprisingly, some populations of this snail species have become asexual very recently.

You also discover that this parasite can be infected with a trematode parasite.

Assume that the sexual populations of this snail species are completely isolated from the asexual populations. Meaning that the sexual populations are on some islands within the archipelago while asexual populations are on others.

Design an observational study or experiment to test the Red Queen Hypothesis using this system. Be sure to include: a clear statement of your hypothesis and predictions: a breif description of how you will carry out your experiment/study: what types of data you will collect: an explanation of that outcomes would support the hypothesis and which outcomes would contradict the hypothesis.

Explanation / Answer

The Red Queen Hypothesis is an evolutionary hypothesis, which supports constant changes. According to Red Queen Hypothesis, the organisms must constantly adapt, evolve, and proliferate, which is not only for reproductive advantage but also to gain advantage to survive in drastic environmental conditions.

The Leigh Van Valen proposed a hypothesis called “Law of Extinction”. According to this hypothesis, the probability of extinction is not dependent on lifetime of population; instead it depends on consistency for years together without much evolution.

To study the given case, field data technique can be used to investigate the present condition. Snails will be collected from two different sites and subsequently determined for the existence of parasite called trematode. The existence of trematode in the body of asexual snail proves the present condition that is the asexual condition of some snails is due to the parasite. In contrast, the existence of parasite in all the snails contradicts with the statement that the asexuality of snails is caused due to parasite.

According to Red Queen Hypothesis, the evolutionary changes occur for the benefit of survival of an organism. Hence, the asexual snails may be benefited to survive in adverse conditions that sustain in the archipelago in the Pacific Ocean in the given case.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse Y
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.